Boxers who were at one point considered the greatest of all time.

[S.G.]

Until someone else came and took their spot. Now obviously we haven't had a new one since Ray Robinson retired (although I suppose some might argue for Ali?), but I thought it'd be kind of cool to compile like a timeline of the fighters who were once the best that ever lived up until that point.

The furthest back I could possibly start at would be George "Little Chocolate" Dixon, who I believe was considered the G.O.A.T. while he was fighting and probably for a little while after...

[StarshipTrooper]

I know Benny Leonard and Henry Armstrong fit in there somewhere.

Poet

[S.G.]

I know Benny Leonard and Henry Armstrong fit in there somewhere.

Poet

Leonard might've been the person to succeed Dixon actually. Although I know Greb's peak kind of overlaps with Leonard's.

[mickey malone]

Until someone else came and took their spot. Now obviously we haven't had a new one since Ray Robinson retired (although I suppose some might argue for Ali?), but I thought it'd be kind of cool to compile like a timeline of the fighters who were once the best that ever lived up until that point.

The furthest back I could possibly start at would be George "Little Chocolate" Dixon, who I believe was considered the G.O.A.T. while he was fighting and probably for a little while after...

Tom Cribb was probably the pre-Queensbury goat, and I'd say Jack Johnson probably spent the most years being recognized as the greatest, pre-Louis and Ali..
Arguments can me made for Harry Greb and Henry Armstrong.. I remember my Grandad saying that Kid Gavilan was the greatest fighter he ever saw, and that Jim Jeffries was classed as unbeatable in his day..

[bklynboy]

Leonard might've been the person to succeed Dixon actually. Although I know Greb's peak kind of overlaps with Leonard's.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that Greb was considered the best of all-time while he was fighting, or anytime afterwards.

[GJC]

.. I remember my Grandad saying that Kid Gavilan was the greatest fighter he ever saw

Wow that phrase ages me lol.
Gavilan was a great fighter very unfortunate that his era had a fellow called Robinson and of course Pep.

[mickey malone]

Wow that phrase ages me lol.
Gavilan was a great fighter very unfortunate that his era had a fellow called Robinson and of course Pep.

Lol, my Grandad reckoned Gavilan was robbed against Robinson.. He died when i was 14, so i couldn't argue really.. Besides, i've never seen that fight, was it close?

[GJC]

Don't think I've ever seen either SRR or Gavilan fight, I know one was meant to be close and one was comfortble for SRR. SRR got a bad cut in one I believe maybe that made it look closer?
If there is any film floating around i'd love to see it.

To hark back to an earlier thread though Gavilan did have a hell of a smell around him re the mob.
He always had tough fights against Graham but one was a total robery and it did come out later that the fix was in.
Now Billy Graham is a name that ought to get thrown in on a fair few threads.
Best fighter not to win the world title and don't believe he ever hit the canvas either.
Beautiful fighter, lovely jab great movement, gave a prime Basilio quite a beating at WW too.